Automatic self feed wax applier



p 1957 J. BOSCARINO, JR 2,805,435

AUTOMATIC SELF FEED WAX APPLIER Filed 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR.JOSEPH BoscARmo, R.

Sept. 10, 1957 .1. BOSCARINO, JR

AUTOMATIC SELF FEED WAX APPLIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 6, 1955zzvmvrozc JOSEPH BoscARmo, JR

United States Patent AUTQMATEC ELF FEED WAX APPLIER Joseph Boscarino,Jr., Brooklyn, N. Y. Application January 6, 1955, Serial No. 480,262

2 Claims. (Cl. 15-431) This invention relates to floor waxers orapplicators and, more particularly, has reference to a device of thetype stated, that is self feeding.

Self feeding floor waxers are not new per se. However, one importantobject of the present invention is to provide an improved means forcontrolling the flow through the floor-contacting element of the device.To this end, the invention includes a pivotally mounted plate within thewax container, which plate when lowered is adapted to close asubstantial number of the apertures through which the wax flows into thesponge. Means is associated with the plate for facilitating theup-and-down movement thereof between its opposite extreme positions,said means including a stem engageable over the filler neck of the waxcontainer and held in its neckengaging position by a slidable closureprovided on said filler neck. Means to further regulate the flow isconstituted by said closure, since the closure, in its fully closedposition seals the wax container at its top against the admission ofair, thus setting up a partial vacuum within the container as the waxflows therefrom to reduce and eventually halt the flow of the wax.

An important object is to provide a generally improved wax applicator ofthe type stated, which as noted above will be particularly adapted, atlittle or no increase in cost above that required from waxers not havingthis feature, to regulate the flow of the wax.

Another object of importance is to provide means facilitating theconnection of a selected floor-contacting element, such as a sponge, tothe wax container.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the wax applicator formed according tothe invention, a portion of the handle being broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, detail sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view, a portion of the handle being broken away, ofa modified construction.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 5, the dottedlines showing the closure in open position.

The reference numeral 10 has been generally applied in Figs. 1-4 to awax applicator formed in accordance with the invention. The applicatorincludes a rectangular connecting frame 12, formed of a polyethylene orother plastic material. The frame has, upon its lower edge, acontinuous, inwardly directed, relatively narrow, spreader elementsupport flange 14. The flange 14 lies in a horizontal plane, and lyingin a common horizontal plane spaced above that of the flange 14 areinwardly extending, rounded lips 16 formed upon the inner surface of theholding frame, at the opposite ends of the frame. The lips are for thepurpose of engaging a wax container to be described hereinafter.

The flange 14, as shown in Figs. .2 and 4, is adapted to extend into aperipheral, complementary groove formed in a spreader element 18 which,in the illustrated example, is a rectangular, cellulosic sponge. Thespreader element contacts the floor surface, and distributes the waxevenly thereover. Material other than sponge material can be employedfor said element, if desired, so long as it has suflicient porosity forpassage of the liquid wax therethrough.

Due to the resiliency of the sponge, it can be compressed to an extentsuflicient to engage the same in the lower portion of the holding framein the position shown in Fig. 2, with the flange 14 extending into theperipheral groove of the sponge.

A wax container includes a rectangular, flat, bottom plate 20 and adownwardly concave, part-cylindrical top plate 22 the opposite ends ofwhich are disposed in downwardly diverging planes as shown in Fig. 2.The top plate 22, throughout its periphery, has an outwardly rollededge, and this is engaged by a similarly rolled peripheral edge 24 ofthe bottom plate, the edges being crlmped together to permanentlyconnect the top and bottom plates and thus form a sealed, hollow waxcontainer.

Extending longitudinally and centrally of the bottom plate 20 is acenter row of outlet openings 25, through which wax may flow out of thecontainer for passage through the element 18. At opposite sides of thecenter row (Fig. 3) are side rows of outlet openings 28.

A flow control plate 30 is engaged at one end between the angularlyrelated bottom plate 20 and the end wall of top plate 22 (see Fig. 2).As a result, the plate 30 is pivotaJly mounted within the wax containerto swing between a first position in which it is in contact with thebottom plate 20, over the full area of the flow control plate 30, and asecond position in which the plate 39 is swung upwardly as shown in Fig.2.

Adjacent its other end, plate 30 has an upwardly struck portion 32, inwhich is loosely engaged a ring 34 extending through an opening formedin the inner end of a stem 36 having adjacent its upper end a projection38. A filler neck 49, at its lower end, has peripherally spaced,outwardly extending apertured tongues 42 through which rivets extendinto the top plate, to fixedly secure said filler neck to the top platein registration with a filler opening 43 of the top plate.

Formed upon opposite side walls of the filler neck 40 are inwardlyextending guide lips 44, and slidably engaged with the top of the fillerneck, under the guide lips, is a slidable, plate-like closure 46 havingat one end an upwardly extending handle 48. The guide lips 44 are ofslightly springable characteristics, and are bent downwardly to anextent suflieient to firmly engage the closure 46, to press the closuredownwardly against the top of the filler neck. As a result, when theclosure is in its fully closed position with the stem recessed whollywithin the filler neck, the wax container will be closed to the entry ofair, thus resulting in a partial vacuum Within the container inhibitingfree flow of the wax, and thus restricting said flow. When the closureis open as in Figs. 1 and 2, of course, air can enter the wax container,thus permitting the wax to flow freely. However, under these conditionsthe amount of wax permitted to flow into the sponge element isaccurately controlled by up-and-down movement of the plate 30. With theplate 35 in its lower position, only the side rows of outlet openings 28are uncovered, so that wax can flow only through said openings of theside rows. When, however, the plate 30 is swung upwardly as in Fig. 2,all the openings 26 are also uncovered, so that wax flows freely throughall of the outlet openings of the'container.

. As will be noted from Fig. 2, the closure 46 holds the stem 36 inengagement with the filler neck, to maintain the flow control plate 30in its upwardly swung position. The spring tension of the guide lips 44prevents the closure 46 from moving to the left in Fig. 2 out ofengagement with the stem. As a result, the projection 38 is firmlyengaged over the associated portion of the filler neck edge.

When the plate 30 is dropped, the stem 36 is wholly recessed within theneck, so asto permit theclosure 46 to be adjusted to a closed positionor left in an open position,-

whichever is desired. However, the upperend of the stem is disposedadjacent the top of the filler neck, thus to permit it to be grasped andpulled upwardly whenever the plate 30 is to be lifted to its Fig. 2position.

' Mounted medially between the opposite ends of the wax container,uponplate 22, is a U-shaped, elongated yoke 50, and extending inwardlytoward one another from the opposite legs of the yoke are coaxialtrunnions 52 engaging in diametrically opposite openings formed in athreaded ferrule or socket 54 into which is threaded a wooden handle 56.This arrangement permits the handle to pivot about the axis of the pinsor trunnions 52, so as to permit the wax applicator to be moved underfurniture or the like, by lowering of the handle. At the same time, thehandle can be detached from the socket 54 for replacement or forfacilitating storageof the device.

. In use, the element 18 is connected to the frame 12 in the mannerpreviously described herein. Then, the wax container is filled with wax,through the neck 40, after which, with the plate 30 elevated or loweredwhichever is desired, one end of the wax container is engaged under thelip 16. Said end can be pressed downwardly below the lip a substantialextent, due to the compressibility of the element 18. This permits thebeaded or rolled opposite end of the wax container to engage under theother'lip 16, after which the element 18 is permitted to expand, to holdthe wax container in engagement with the lips 16 as shown in Fig. 2. Thegrooved element 18 is thus a spring means bearing against the container.Referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the lips are not provided onopposite sides of the container in the illustrated example, since theyare not necessary for holding the container in engagement with theholding frame. They could, however, be provided longitudinally of theholding frame as well as on the ends, and under these circumstances, theholding frame might be split at one location on its periphery to permitit to expand for receiving the wax container. Alternatively, the holdingframe can be of inherently resilient material to permit it to spreadslightly when the wax container is to be engaged in or removed from theframe. I

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the applicator is identicalin practically all respects to that shown in Figs. 1-4, with theexception that the filler neck and closure are differently formed, andfurther, thecontrol plate 30 is not used. Similar parts are givensimilar reference numerals with the latter a added to distinguish theparts. In this modification, the wax container 22 has a filler back 46*secured thereto, and pivotally mounted upon the upper end of the fillerneck is a closure 46 The filler neck has upwardly extending ears 58, andthe closure 46 has ears engaging against the respective ears 58. Theseveral ears are apertured for extension of a pivot pin therethrough, tohingedly connect the closure to the filler neck for swinging about theaxis of pin 60.

Within the filler neck, the closure is provided, on its underside,with'a depending lug 64, carrying a pin 66 on which isloosely pivoted adepending prop element 68 having atits lower end a notch 70.

t A spring 62 is coiled about the pin 60, and at one end is inengagement with the tiller neck, the other end of the spring engagingagainst the top of the closure The 7 spring is tensioned to normallybias the closure to its full line, closed position shown in Fig. 6, andin this position, the closure prevents air from entering the waxcontainer, thus causing the previously discussed partial vacuum forinhibiting free flow of the wax.

If, however, free flow of the wax is desired, the closure 46 is swungupwardly, and the top element 68 is swung outwardly so as to cause thenotch 70 to receive the upper edge of the filler neck 40 This holds theclosure in its upwardly swung position, against the restraint of thespring, thus permitting air to enter the wax container.

.It is to be understood that the closure 46 may also be attached to ascrew type or a sliding type of cap engaged over the filler neck 40*.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as, new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent 1s:

1. A wax applicator comprising a container for liquid wax includinga-bottom plate, a filler neck, a movable closure for said neck, aspreader element underlying the bottom plate, the container havingoutlet openings for the passage of liquid wax therethrough into saidelement, and a rigid connecting frame extending peripherally of anddetachably engaging both the container and said element, said outletopenings being formed in side-by-side, parallel rows including a centerrow and side rows disposed at opposite sides of the center row, theapplicator further including a fiat control plate within the containerhaving one end engaged with the bottom plate for up-and-down swingingmovement of the flow control plate relative to the bottom plate, saidflow control plate overlying the center row of openings so as to closesaid openings when swung downwardly into engagement with the bottomplate, the applicator further including a stem pivotally connected tothe other end of the flow control plate and extending upwardly throughsaid filler neck, said stem being adapted to engage over the filler neckwhen the control plate is swung upwardly, to hold the control plate inits upwardly swung position, the stem including a projection extendinglaterally thereof, adjacent its upper end, for engaging the filler neck.

2. A wax applicator comprising a container for'liquid wax including abottom plate, a filler neck, a closure for said neck, a spreader elementunderlying the bottom plate,

the container having outlet openings for the passage of liquid waxtherethrough into said element, and a connecting frame extendingperipherally of and detachably engaging both the container and saidelement, said outlet openings being formed in side-by-side, parallelrows including a center row and side rows disposed at opposite sides ofthe center row, the applicator further including a flat control platewithin the container having one end engaged with the bottom plate forup-and-down swinging movement of the flow control plate relative to thebottom plate, said flow control plate overlying the center row ofopenings so as to close said openings when swung downwardly intoengagementwith the bottom plate, the applicator further including a stempivotally connected'to the other end of the flow control plate andextending upwardly through said filler neck, said stem being adapted toengage over the filler neck when the control plate is swung upwardly, tohold the control plate in its upwardly swung position, the stemincluding a projection extending laterally thereof, adjacent its upperend, for engaging the filler neck, said closure being formed as a slidemounted uponthe upper end of the filler neck to References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Keene June 6, 1882 Connor Ian.29, 1895 6 Buschman June 25, 1912 Tanenbaum Apr. 22, 1924 Brown July 7,1925 Lark'm Sept. 19, 1933 Oakhill Feb. 1, 1949 Acocella et a1 Dec. 12,1950

